Let’s be real for a second. In 1993, Janet Jackson didn't just release an album; she staged a full-blown coup of her own image. If you were around when the janet. album dropped, you remember the cover—those hands, the jeans, the absolute "I’m in charge now" energy. But while "That’s the Way Love Goes" was the smooth, radio-friendly introduction, it was the second single that actually redefined her.
Janet Jackson - If was a pivot point. It was aggressive. It was sweaty. It was, honestly, a little bit shocking for a public that still saw her as the militant, buttoned-up leader of the Rhythm Nation.
The Birth of a New Sound in a Conference Room
Most people think hits are born in high-end studios with candles and mood lighting. But the lyrics for "If" actually started in a Virgin Records conference room. Janet has told this story before—how she was basically just sitting there, letting her mind wander into territories she hadn’t really shared with the public yet.
The track itself came from a classic Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis moment. Jimmy was literally watching a basketball game, just messing around on his keyboards, when Janet stopped him. She heard those chords and knew. She told him to play it again, but funkier. Grittier.
What they ended up with was a monster. You’ve got a heavy rock guitar riff (some say it sounds like Peter Gabriel’s "Sledgehammer," others just hear pure industrial grit) clashing with a hip-hop beat and a tiny, high-pitched sample of Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Someday We’ll Be Together." It shouldn't work. On paper, that mix sounds like a car crash. Instead, it became the blueprint for the next decade of R&B.
Why the Choreography Changed Everything
You cannot talk about Janet Jackson - If without talking about that dance break. Period.
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Dominic Sena directed the video, set in this futuristic, voyeuristic Asian nightclub. It featured touchscreen technology way before we were all carrying iPhones in our pockets. But it was Tina Landon’s choreography that etched this song into the history books.
Think about it. Before this, Janet’s dancing was sharp, precise, and almost athletic. In "If," it became carnal.
- The "V" Formation: That iconic moment where the dancers are tight, moving as one living organism.
- The Seduction: It wasn't just "moves"; it was storytelling through tension.
- The Breakdown: It’s arguably the most difficult routine in Janet’s entire catalog.
A fun piece of trivia: a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez was actually supposed to be in this video. She’d already appeared in "That’s the Way Love Goes," but she ended up backing out of "If" because she landed an acting role on a show called Second Chances. Can you imagine how different that video would look with J.Lo in the lineup?
Janet Jackson - If and the Power of the Female Gaze
The song is basically one long, uninhibited fantasy. Janet isn't waiting for a guy to approach her; she’s looking at him from across the room and detailing exactly what she’d do if she had her way.
"I'd go 'round and 'round..."
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Yeah. She went there.
Critics at the time were a bit stunned. Before this, Janet’s "sexy" songs like "Funny How Time Flies" were about romance and soft lighting. "If" was about lust. Pure, unadulterated, "I-can-almost-taste-it" desire. By putting these thoughts on a track that peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, Janet was essentially claiming her right to be the pursuer.
It was a feminist flex. It told the world that a Black woman could be vulnerable, militant, and hyper-sexual all at the same time, without losing an ounce of her power.
Technical Brilliance: The "If" Production
If you listen to the multitracks—and music nerds have spent decades deconstructing this—the layering is insane.
- The Guitars: They used fuzzed-out, distorted tones that felt more like Nine Inch Nails than Whitney Houston.
- The Percussion: It’s got that "jeep beat" swing that was huge in the early 90s but stayed polished enough for pop radio.
- The Vocals: Janet’s delivery shifts from a low, rhythmic chant in the verses to a soaring, melodic hook.
Jimmy Jam has mentioned they wanted the lyrics to sound almost like a tribal chant. They were aiming for something that felt ancient and modern at the same time. They hit the mark. The song ended up winning an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video and a BMI Pop Award for being one of the most-played tracks of the year.
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The Impact on Today's Artists
You can see the DNA of Janet Jackson - If in almost every major female performer today. Beyoncé’s precision, Rihanna’s unapologetic sexuality, Tinashe’s complex choreography—it all leads back to this specific era of Janet.
She proved that you didn't have to choose between being a "serious artist" and a "sex symbol." You could be both. You could write the songs, produce the tracks, lead the dance troupe, and still be the girl in the conference room daydreaming about a guy at the club.
How to Appreciate the Legacy of "If" Today
If you really want to understand why this track matters, don't just stream it on your phone while you're doing dishes. Do these three things:
- Watch the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards performance. It is widely considered one of the best live televised performances in pop history. The energy is unmatched.
- Listen to the "Extended LP Mix." It’s over five minutes long and lets the industrial-rock elements breathe in a way the radio edit doesn't.
- Pay attention to the background vocals. Janet’s harmonies are incredibly dense. She often recorded dozens of vocal layers to get that "wall of sound" effect that Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are famous for.
The song isn't just a 90s relic. It's a masterclass in how to evolve. It’s a reminder that "If" is a powerful word—it’s the start of every great fantasy and, in Janet’s case, the start of a whole new era in music history.
To fully grasp the technical evolution Janet underwent, compare the "If" production to her earlier work on Control. Notice how the "clean" Minneapolis sound transformed into something much dirtier and more complex. Then, look at her Velvet Rope era that followed; you can hear the seeds of that deeper, darker introspection being planted right here in the middle of this high-octane dance track.